Articles of manufacture such as handles and the like



yan,

A. L. FREEDLANDER ET AL ARTICLES 0F MANUFACTURE SUCH AS HANDLES AND THELIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1925. 1,523,638

A. L.. FREEDLANDER ET AL ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE SUCH AS HANDLES AND THELIKE Filed Dec. 26, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented dan. 2li), i925. l

NETE@ STAT-ggg,

orare-a.

ABRAHAM L. FREEDLALNDER AND WILLIAM G. GOODWIN, OF DAYTON, OHO, AS-

SIG-NORS TO THE RUBBER DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, OF DAYTN, OHI, A TRUSTnsrarn y ARTUICLES 0F MANUFACTURE SUGH AS HANDLES AND THE ELKE.

Application filed December 26,1922. Serial No. 608,979.

lt is the object of our inventionk to pro-.

vide a new article of manufacture such as a rubber handle of peculiarlcharacteristics for steel tennisvrackets or tennis rackets of othermaterial such as rubber.

lt is our object to provide such a tennis racket handle which will havethe characteristics of resistence to corrosion, wear, breaky age, shock,and the like.

lt is our object to provide a handle which will positively grip 'theracket proper so that it cannot be detached therefrom.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a handle which ishollow and therefore very light.

lt is a further object to provide a handle, the weight of which maybevaried to suit the requirement of balancing the racket and to suit therequirement of its total weight.

It is an additional object of our invention to rovide a handle whichwill resist. the action of acids, and the like.

It is our object to provide a handle which will bend and be capable ofbeing deformed under strain and shock like steel but still retain manyof the resilient characteristics and facilities for recovery of rubber.

lt is an additional objectn of our invention to -provide a handle ofsuch tenacity and resiliency that it will permanently adhere to othermaterials of different coeicients of expansion such as steel formingwith such materials a permanent union.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a handle having ahighly resilient soft cover which will yieldingly engage the handpreventing abrasion and which will adhere closely to the core of thehandle.

lt is an additional object of our invention to provide the base `of thehandle with` the handle while at the same time providing highlyresilient protection for the corners of the handle to take and receiveblows usually accorded this part of the racket. rllhe'medallion providedon the base of the handle by this kind of cap also furnishes a permanentform of name plate or position for the application of a trade niark.

it is our object in roviding this compound, which has the foregoingcharacteristics when completed and applied-to various objects ofcommerce and sport, to have a compound susceptible of being molded invarying shapes and sizes for varying purposes by quantity production.

llt is our object to provide a compound that has a uniform strength, ishomogeneous or may be of successive densities,as desired1 in order-toproduce the requisite effects.

llt is our object to provide a tennis racket of rubber with theexception of the strands constituting the webbing in the face of theracket. Such a racket would be susceptible of using either steel wiresor gut as may be desired and is imprevious to the eects of temperature,moisture and the like.

it will be understood that the adaptation of this medium to a tennisracket is illustrative and that it is susceptible of being employed inarticles of commerce such as automobile steering wheels, bicyclehandles, switch handles, etc., or articles of sport such as the heads ofpolo mallets where the economical methods of producing it, its phys-4 pical characteristics and its dielectric properties make it especiallyadaptable.

-lVe comprehend. within our invention such varying uses.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the steel tennis racket having a handlecomposed of our compound.

Fig. 2 is a section of the head of a polo mallet. l i

Fig. 3 is a section of the handle of the tennis racket. i

Fig. 4 is a section of the head of a tennis racket made completely ofrubber. .The

strings may be made of other material, if desired.

Referrin to the drawings in detail:

l genera ly refers to the handle composed ofthe compound consisting ofthe following ingredients:

Smoke sheetsof rubber, resin oil, sulphur, ammoniuml bicarbonate,dehydrated lime; and ethyl-idene-aniline,.and gas black.

It is preferred to mix these several ingredients4 in fifty` to onehundiied pound lots. The following is a description of the method ofmixing and preparing this compound on the basis of a o ne hundred poundlot.

We take the smoke sheets of' rubber and masticate them for fifty minutesaccording to the usual practice. In the place of the smokev sheets wemay substitute fine para having the characteristic of great strength.

We select 61 pounds and 12 oz. ofvsuch rubber. It is essential that thisrubber, when finally made up bev used before it is twenty-four 4 hoursold'because after that time it begins to recover its resiliency.

y When these smoke sheets are' worked on the mill until plastic at whichtime they have achieved a temperature of approximately 13.() to 180Fahrenheit, the latter t temperature being a'pproximately'the safetytemperature, we addrosin oil to the extent of 1 pound and 13 oz. This isa softening and volatilizing agent. We then add sulphur by sifting it inslowly as the rubber is being worked on the mill. We use for thispurpose v18 pounds and 6 bz. of the sulphur which is of the fneness topass through a 300 mesh screen. The sulphur is used for the usualpurpose in compounds for promoting the vulcanization. Thereafter whilethe mixing `is taking'A place the dehydrated lime which has beengroundas fine as it is possible y to secureit is incorporated in the masstothe extent of 3 pounds and 1 oz. The linie is used,A to tougher thecompound and accelerates the reaction between the rubber and thesulphur. We then add 1 poundand 8 oz.

of gas black for the purpose of giving color and some body to the.mixture7 but this may be omitted. p

In the meanwhile, the-ethyl-idene-aniline has been heated in a steamjacketed kettle to about the temperature of boiling water, that 'is toabout 212 Fahrenheit. XVe then dip this out of the kettle andincorporate 1 pound and 4 oz. thereof in thek mixture in the mill.' Thisacts as an accelerator to the reaction and a'dds tenacity to theresulting compound. v

The last ingredient added is the ammonium bicarbonate to'the extent of 4pounds and 12 oz. This yis added to give the spongy or aerated characterto the compound'. It is added last because the heat of mixing in themill would volatilize it if added earlier in the process. i

' It is essential `that this compound be molded and vulcanized or blownwithin twelve hours 'after it has been mixed. Thepreferred practice isto mix fresh batches each day.

The temperature of the .room in which it is kept and in which it hasbeen mixed should be approximately()o Fahrenheit.

' lVhen it is desired to mold this compoundl intoli'nished articles itis placed in a metal mold which is j'acketed for receiving steam underpressure and cold water. The compound is put in the mold and a mandrelis inserted about which the compound is .to be molded or the articleitself onI which the compound is to be molded may be inserted in themold, or both. v f

The mandrel is sometimes used to hold the article in position while-thecompound l ismo'lded or blown.

The term blown, is used because, when the heat is applied to the mold,the compound expands and very great pressure is set up in the moldduring this molding process.v This results in the compound having aporous appearance'.

` In preparing the mold the space between :the mandrel Iand the articleabout which the compound is to be molded is approximately half filledwith the compound allowing the other"half ofthearea for the expansion ofthe compound during the molding process. In some cases where itjisdesired to have a soft rubber co-atingvon the resulting article themo'ldis lined with a soft rubber sheet. It is preferable to cement thissheet to the inside of the mold. vThe sheet itself is aboutone-sixty-fourth of an inch in thickness.

When the mold is closed thesteam is turned on and the mold is kept underheatfor one hundred thirty-five minutes approximately. Aboutone-third'of this time in the beginning of the molding process thepressure of the steam is being gradually in-v crease-d until it reaches4va maximum of eighty pounds. The remainder of the time the steam is heldat an eighty pound prest It will be understood that these quantities'are approximate and some variation is possible.

In formingthe handle 1, a mold having passage-ways for. the passage ofsteam or water is employed. Inasmuch as it is usually desired to forma'soft rubber coating for the compound, the mold is lined with a rubbersheet so that when the article is blown the the exterior of the handle.

Leashes rubber sheet will be securely Vvulcanized to A mandrel isprovided about which the handle is molded and one end of the mandrel isadapted to receive the ends of the throat members 3 of the circularframe work 2 to hold them in position while the compound isbeing blownor molded, about them. The mold is opened up after the treatment of thecompound has been effected and then the mandrel is withdrawn leaving thehandle molded on the racket. rlhe frame work 2 and the throat members 3may be made of either hard rubber or some similar compound or of steel,depending upon the peculiar characteristic desired by the user of suchracket and the.

conditions of its use.

rlhe handleis provided witha cup shaped base'a on the outer face ofwhich at the end of the handle is a relatively hard portion 5 bridgingthe channel-way 6 within the handle. This medallion 5 provides a readymeans of mount-ing the makers name and mark and also prevents the end ofthe handle being punched in by some blow applied thereto.

The handle is preferably provided with a soft rubber coating 'i' toprevent abrasion of the hand of the user. rlhe portions 8 and 9 of thecap over the end of the handle are also highly resilient rubber in orderto take the blows which are usually received on the handle at thesepoints. lThe more rigid po-rtion of thehandle designated 10, made of ourcompound, may be homogeneous or may be of successive densities asindicated at 1()aA and 10b which progressive densities are sometimes ofvalue. f

The throat pieces 3-3 are embedded vinto the end 11 of the handle beingmolded therein under pressure according to the method hereinbeforedescribed. In case the frame and throat membersare composed of a steeltube which is comprehended within our invention which embraces a rubberhandle having the characteristics of'our compound and a steel framework', it will be found that the features of resiliency of steel may becombined with the advantages of a non-corrosive handle, unaffected byconditions of temperature, moisture and the like, while there will be apositive union of permanent vcharacter between the two materials.

i Again, if it is desired to make the framev work of such material ashard rubber which` connection with the shipment of such goods overseasand in foreign countries where the conditions of temperature, moisture,packing, and the like are severe on such materials as steel and wood. y'll he strings may or steel, as desired.

lf the racket is of hard rubber it may be balanced properly by providingthe top of the racket with a portion 12 of greater density and a portion13 may likewise be provided near the throat of the racket where bothgreater weightor greater strength may be desired.

rlhis racket of hard `rubber has a frame work of tubular constnuctionconsisting of an outer wall 14 and a space 15 therein with apertures 16in the walls 14 for the passage of the strings.

ln Figure 2 will be seen in section the head of the polo mallet whichhas to withstand conditions lof use of great severity. rl`his head iscomposed of our compound designated 17 having a hollow portion orchamber 18 therein. rl`he shaft of the mallet is molded into the head asat 19.

While we have shown anddescribed certain features as constitutinfy ourinvention, it will be understood that parts have been be either ofrubber, gut

aol

shown for purposes of illustration only, and

vthat we do not desire to' be limited to such details, as obviousmodifications will occur to persons skilled in the art. i

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Inv a new article of manufacture, a tennis racket consisting of a.frame and throat members,`and a handle molded on the throat membersconsisting of a hard rubber core and a relatively soft resilientcovering therefor.

2. In a new article of manufacture, a tennis racket oonsist-ing'of aframe and throat members, and a handle molded on the throat membersconsisting of a hard rubber core and a relatively soft resilientcovering therefor, and a capv member on the end ofthe handle. l

3: Ina new article of manufacture, a tennis racket consisting of a frameand throat members, handle having one end thereof molded on the throatmembers and the ballance of the handle hollow, and a cap member closingthe outer open end of the handle.

4. In a new article of manufacture, a tennis racket consisting of aframe and throat-` members, a handle having one end thereof molded onthe throat members and the balance of the handle hollow, and a capmember clo'sing the outer open end of the handle, said cap memberconsisting of relatively soft and resilient side portions andvperipheral vportions with a relatively hard central por- V said capmember consisting of relatively Soft` nis racket consisting of a frameand throat members, a handle having one end thereof molded on the throatmembers and the balance of the hand-le hollow, and a cap member closingthe outer open end of the handle, and a relatively resilient covering onsaid handle.

6. In a new article of manufacture, a tennis racket consisting of aframe and throatv members, a handle having one end thereof molded on thethroat members andthe balance of the handle hollow, and a cap memberclosing the outer open end of the handle,

and resilient side portions and peripheral portions with a relativelyhard interior portion engagingl the ends of, thc open end of the handleand bridging the open end thereof, and a relatively resilient coveringon said said handle being capable of resistence to/ most acids, fumesand electric current.

8. In a new article of manufacture such as a handle,I of a hollowstructure consisting ofyportions of varying degrees of porosity anddensity7 the inner portion of said handle beingrelatively porous, thenext outer p or- ,tion homogeneous therewith being relatively dense andlboth of said portions constituting a structure highly resistant to shockbut capable -of being deformed without breaking,

said handle "being capable of resistence to most acids, fumes andelectric current, and a with,

relatively soft rubber coating integral there-x 9.* Iln a new article of-imanufacture such as a tenms racket, a frame and throat members ofrubber composition havmg a plurality vof apertures' in the frame andthroat.

members for lthe threading of strings therethrough, strings, and ahandle -molded on the throat members also of rubber composition havingahollow interior.

10. In a new article of manufacture such as -a tennis rack-et, a frameand throat members of rubber compositionA having a plurality ofapertures in the frame and throat members for the' threading of stringstherethrough, strings, and a handle moldedl on the 'throat members alsoof rubber composition having a hollow interior, a 'cap member closingthe hollow open end ofthe vhandle anda soft rubber-coating on thehandle.

l1. In a new article of manufacture such as a tennis racket, a frame`and throat members of rubber composition having a' plurality ofapertures in the frame andthroat members for the threading of stringstherethrough, strings,l and a handle. molded on the throat members alsoof rubber composition having a hollow interior,'a cap member closing thehollow 'open end of the handle and a soft rubber coating on the handle,said cap member having side and peripheral portions of relatively softrubber and a center portion on the end of relatively hard rubber.

12.- A new article of manufacture consisting of a tennis racket ofrubber.

18. A new article of'manufacture consisting of a tennis racket of'rubber and strings of different material.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures. y ABRAHAM L. FREEDLANDER..WILLIAM G. GOODWIN, l

